Is playschool necessary for toddlers? Real moms share their opinions

Is playschool necessary for toddlers?

Here's what real moms and Dr Shachi Dalvi, child psychologist have to say about sending your children to playschools.

A playschool is different from preschool. Kids as young as 18-months are enrolled in playschools where they engage in structured play. A playschool acts as a foundation to get children used to a school environment. Some playschools teach children basic things like identifying colours, alphabets, naming animals, fruits, vegetables and objects. Some playschools also teach kids to hold a pencil, draw and to colour within lines.  My daughter is 2-years-old and doesn’t go to a playschool, and I get a lot of questions and unsolicited opinions on how my daughter could be missing out on so many wonderful experiences and learning. While I am convinced that my daughter would do well when she starts preschool, I am intrigued about why some parents choose to send their young babies to playschool. I spoke to a few moms and received interesting insights. Here’s what some moms feel about sending kids to playschools.

In favour of playschool

Hina Nazim says, ‘My son started playschool at 20 months and he loves it there. It’s only 2 hours of playing and jumping around, what’s the harm? And he gets to learn so many poems, colours, alphabets — all this will only help him during preschool.” This is the number one reason why many parents opt to send their young children to playschool.  ‘A child is interviewed to get admission to a preschool. I cannot risk my child not knowing names of animals, vegetables, colours or his alphabets. A playschool will groom him to make it to preschool,” says Nisha Desai, mom to a 19-months-old. Another mom, Kanupriya Wadhwa, says, “When I was doing my research on playschools, one of the teachers said that kids learn to wait in queues and follow instructions within three months. Also, I believe that a child needs to learn to play and learn in a classroom environment. Playschool is a good way to lay that foundation.”

While most parents send their children to playschools so that they can adjust and learn a few basic things, Swapna C, says, “When I sent my 2-year-old child to a playschool, it wasn’t because I wanted her to learn anything. It was solely for the peer-to-peer interaction she would get. She hardly interacted with kids her age and playschool was a good way for her to do that.”

What I understood from speaking to moms who send their children to playschools is that most of them wanted their children to learn to adjust in a classroom environment and to be able to follow instructions.

Moms not in favour of playschool

“An 18-month-old child is practically a baby! My son does not speak many words, runs around the house, plays with whatever he likes and is definitely not potty-trained. How can I send him away from me for 2 hours!” says Sandhya Arvind. Not being potty-trained is one of the most common reasons mom stated for not sending kids to playschools. “I cannot allow a stranger to clean my daughter’s poop or change her diaper. How can I be sure of the hygiene of the person or the place? How can parents send their children who are not potty-trained to playschools?” comments Zainab Tinwala, “I understand kids have to face that at some point in time, but a 3-year-old has better immunity than an 18-month-old.”

“I have many friends who send their children to playschools, and honestly I see no difference in them and my daughter, who doesn’t go to a playschool. She knows things a 2-year-old should. Children learn words, names of colours and objects and poems from their parents and people they interact with. I don’t feel a playschool can teach anything that a parent cannot. If you want to teach manners to your child, practice it yourself. I firmly believe that home is a child’s first school,” Kriti Desai says.

“Why would you want a 20-month-old to engage in structured play or stand in a queue? Aren’t toddlers supposed to be wild and carefree?” asks Bhavna Doshi, “If you child’s behaviour bothers you, work with your child to correct it. Do not outsource that job to a playschool. You want your child to learn your manners, not the nanny’s at the school.”

A child psychologist’s opinion

According to Dr Shachi Dalvi, child psychologist, playschool isn’t a necessity. “A child younger than 2 yearsdoes not need any schooling. A child will learn more by bonding and interacting with the parents. I do not recommend sending a child to a playschool if you can give the child a healthy environment at home.”

If you do wish to send your child to a playschool, here are a few things to keep in mind

Establish a healthy bond with your child where your child can freely communicate with you. Maintain a rapport so that your child tells you about what they did at the playschool. Do not send your child to a playschool just because it is a norm. Every child is different. If you feel your child can benefit from playing and interacting with kids his age, then try to arrange playdates instead of sending them to a playschool. Many kids benefit from going to a playschool. Children who lack confidence, are introverts or have trouble communicating, can find playschools useful. Take cues from your child and decide for yourself whether your child needs to go to a playschool.

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